Due to it's sensitive nature and higher value, this isopod is an exception compared to how all others are offered on our site. They come in exact 5 count quantities only and require a "Hold for Pick Up" shipping method when checking out. Overnight shipping is highly recommended for this species!
The Cubaris Sp. Lemon Blue Isopod ranks among the most coveted and desirable of isopods in the hobby today surpassed only by the Ember Bee varieties. It's deep navy blue surrounded by blazing bright yellow makes it nothing short of breath taking!
Unfortunately, they can be very challenging to keep and reproduce painfully slow. This is largely why they are so rare and command such high prices. For those reasons we HIGHLY recommended that only thoroughly experienced keepers considering purchasing this isopod species. It's an investment not just in money, but also in committing to strict care regimens and maintaining them consistently which is what this isopod requires to thrive.
A known issue with this isopod is that their bright and vibrant colors can sometimes fade over time. This is caused by poor diet and inbreeding. This can be mitigated by ensuring they have a diet rich in carotene and Astaxanthin. Items like carrots, squash and sweet potatoes are a great source of carotene while Astaxanthin can be delivered in shrimp pellets and color enhancing fish food. If you're fortunate enough to see offspring at some point, that is an ideal time to find new additions from a different source as to ensure genetic diversification in your culture. All of our specimens for sale have solid vibrant colors.
A 6 quart gasket sealed storage bin or small glass aquarium with tight fitting lid is sufficient for a small starter culture of 5-10 individuals. Standard or bioactive enclosures can be enhanced with natural botanical items to simulate the isopods habitat in the wild. This helps them feel secure which in turn promotes their natural processes like eating and breeding. These isopods are a sub tropical to tropical species so they do prefer it on the warmer side. 72F to 80F is their comfort zone. Small deviations in temperature are not detrimental, but do whatever you need based on your enclosure set up to avoid large swings in either direction as they typically will not fare well with large sudden changes. They also don't need a defined moisture gradient like most other isopods. Their native environments are warmer temperatures and higher humidity most times of the year. The soil should be mostly moist but not soggy! A very small moisture gradient in our experience has worked well. Just ensure neither side gets anywhere remotely close to dry. Our breeder tank is best described as "moist side and slightly less moist side". A few pieces of cork bark strategically placed will help retain the humidity levels and reduce the frequency of watering needed to maintain a reasonably consistent humidity. Do also provide a deeper substrate as they like to burrow sometimes. Depth should be a minimum 4-6 inches. Deeper substrates will also retain water longer so this goes hand in hand with humidity needs.
Isopods are detritivores. Their primary diet in nature is leaf litter and decayed wood. Both of these should always be available in abundance. They will also happily consume any other decomposing organic plant or animal matter they come across. As such it is vital to supplement your isopods with other food sources on a semi regular basis. They enjoy food options like squash, radishes, carrots and other veggies along with commercial isopod powdered food like Repashy. They also need some occasional protein in their diets which can be things like freeze dried minnows, shrimp, fish pellets, dried insects and other protein based food sources. Be sure to feed these on the drier side as they can spoil quickly in humid environments and attract unwanted pests. Lemon Blues are noted to be fond of limestone, mirroring the caves and rocky areas they naturally occur. Small chunks of Texas Holy Rock are readily utilized and a favorite hide out for our Lemon Blues.
The Lemon Blue isopod is a slow breeder and even with the best of care will take 4-6 months on average before seeing small broods. Providing the environment they need is not hard, the challenge is keeping it consistent and not allowing parameters to swing too far in short periods of time. But if you can get them dialed in properly and maintain that, they will do well with patience and time. It's taken well over a year just to produce the limited amounts of specimens we can offer here from time to time.
Quick Facts
- Origin: Thailand
- Classification: Armadillidiidae > Cubaris > Cubaris Sp. > Lemon Blue
- Characteristics: Deep navy blue surrounded by bright yellow. Very sensitive to environmental changes
- Activity Level: Primarily nocturnal and active at night. Very shy and seldom seen during daylight hours.
- Average Size: 0.75"
- Care Level: Advanced